Pet waste bag dispenser

ABSTRACT

A pet waste bag dispenser includes a housing defining an interior compartment and having at least one opening in communication with the interior compartment. A pair of positioning plates is located within the interior compartment of the housing and is configured to position at least one box containing rolled pet waste bags relative to the opening such that the rolled pet waste bags can be dispensed through the opening in the housing. The pair of positioning plates is also configured to position a plurality of stacked pet waste bags relative to the opening such that stacked pet waste bags can be dispensed through the opening in the housing.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation-in-part patent application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/239,839, entitled Pet Waste Bag Dispenser, filed Sep. 22, 2011, the disclosure of which is fully incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

The field of this invention relates generally to pet waste bag dispensers and more particularly to a pet waste bag dispenser adapted to store and dispense both rolled pet waste bags and stacked pet waste bags.

BACKGROUND

Pet waste bag dispensers are often placed in parks or along trails/walking paths frequented by pets and their owners to make it easy for the owners to clean up after their pets. Known pet waste bag dispensers include metal boxes configured to dispense pet waste bags through an opening in the box. Thus, pet waste bags are readily available to the owner should the need arise.

The pet waste bags are typically available either rolled or stacked. As a result, known pet waste bag dispensers are available to dispense either the rolled pet waste bags or the stacked pet waste bags, not both. Thus, once the pet waste bag dispenser is purchased, the owner or service provider responsible for maintaining (e.g., stocking) the pet waste bag disperser is limited to a single type of bag that can be used with the dispenser. That is, stacked pet waste bags cannot be used in pet waste bag dispensers configured for rolled pet waste bags, and rolled pet waste bags cannot be used in pet waste bag dispensers configured for stacked pet waste bags.

As a result, there is a need for a pet waste bag dispenser that is adapted to store and dispense both rolled pet waste bags and stacked pet waste bags.

SUMMARY

In one aspect, a pet waste bag dispenser generally comprises a housing defining an interior compartment and having at least one opening in communication with the interior compartment. A pair of positioning plates is located within the interior compartment of the housing and configured to position at least one box containing rolled pet waste bags relative to the opening such that the rolled pet waste bags can be dispensed through the opening in the housing. The pair of positioning plates is also configured to position a plurality of stacked pet waste bags relative to the opening such that stacked pet waste bags can be dispensed through the opening in the housing.

In another aspect, a pet waste bag dispenser generally comprises a housing defining an interior compartment and having at least one opening in communication with the interior compartment. The interior compartment is sized and shaped to receive one of at least one box of rolled pet waste bags and a plurality of stacked pet waste bags. A pair of positioning plates is located within the interior compartment of the housing. The pair of positioning plates includes a back edge extending generally vertically and disposed at a back panel of the housing, and a sloped edge extending at an angle relative to the back edge. A pair of hooks is disposed above and aligned with the pair of positioning plates. The pair of positioning plates is configured to position the at least one box containing rolled pet waste bags relative to the opening such that the rolled pet waste bags can be dispensed through the opening in the housing. The pair of positioning plates is also configured to position a plurality of stacked pet waste bags relative to the opening such that the stacked pet waste bags can be dispensed through the opening in the housing. The pair of hooks is adapted to support the plurality of stacked bags such that the bags are disposed adjacent the opening in the housing and the sloped edge of each of the pair of positioning plates is arranged to locate the stacked bags adjacent the opening in the housing when the stacked bags are supported by the pair of hooks.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective of one embodiment of a pet waste bag dispenser adapted to store and dispense both rolled pet waste bags and stacked pet waste bags, the pet waste bag dispenser being in a closed position.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the pet waste bag dispenser of FIG. 1 in the closed position.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the pet waste bag dispenser of FIG. 1 in the closed position.

FIG. 4 is a perspective of the pet waste bag dispenser of FIG. 1 in an opened position.

FIG. 5 is a front view of the pet waste bag dispenser of FIG. 1 in the opened position.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the pet waste bag dispenser of FIG. 1 in the opened position.

FIG. 7 is a perspective of a bag positioner of the pet waste bag dispenser of FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is a front view of the bag positioner of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a side view of the bag positioner of FIG. 7.

FIG. 10 is a perspective of the pet waste bag dispenser similar to FIG. 4 but illustrating a plurality of boxes containing rolled pet waste bags disposed within the pet waste bag dispenser.

FIG. 11 is a front view of the pet waste bag dispenser of FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a perspective of the pet waste bag dispenser similar to FIG. 10 but illustrating the pet waste bag dispenser in the closed position and a plurality of pet waste bag extending therefrom.

FIG. 13 is a perspective of the pet waste bag dispenser similar to FIG. 4 but illustrating a plurality of stacked pet waste bags disposed within the pet waste bag dispenser.

FIG. 14 is a front view of the pet waste bag dispenser of FIG. 13.

FIG. 15 is a perspective of the pet waste bag dispenser similar to FIG. 13 but illustrating the pet waste bag dispenser in the closed position and one of the stacked pet waste bags extending therefrom.

FIG. 16 is a perspective of another embodiment of a pet waste bag dispenser adapted to store and dispense both rolled pet waste bags and stacked pet waste bags, the pet waste bag dispenser being in an opened position.

FIG. 17 is a front view of the pet waste bag dispenser of FIG. 16 in the opened position.

FIG. 18 is a sectional view of the pet waste bag dispenser along the line 18-18 depicted in FIG. 17.

FIG. 19 is a perspective of the pet waste bag dispenser similar to FIG. 16 but illustrating a plurality of boxes containing rolled pet waste bags disposed within the pet waste bag dispenser.

FIG. 20 is a front view of the pet waste bag dispenser of FIG. 19.

FIG. 21 is a perspective of the pet waste bag dispenser similar to FIG. 16 but illustrating a plurality of stacked pet waste bags disposed within the pet waste bag dispenser.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1-6 illustrate one embodiment of a pet waste bag dispenser, indicated generally at 10, adapted to store and dispense both rolled pet waste bags and stacked pet waste bags. In the illustrated embodiment, the pet waste bag dispenser 10 comprises a rectangular box-shaped housing, indicated generally at 11. It is understood, however, that the housing 11 of the pet waste bag dispenser 10 can have any suitable shape (e.g., cube, circular, triangular). As seen in FIGS. 1-6, the housing 11 of the illustrated pet waste bag dispenser 10 comprises a front panel 12, a back panel 14, a top panel 16, a bottom panel 18, and a pair of side panels 20, 22. A shelf 23, which is illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, extends between the side panels 20, 22. The front panel 12 includes a flange 26 arranged to overlap the top panel 16 and the side panels 20, 22.

As seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, the front panel 12, the back panel 14, the top panel 16, the bottom panel 18, and the side panels 20, 22 cooperatively define an interior compartment 24 of the pet waste bag dispenser 10. In the illustrated embodiment, the front panel 12 is hingedly connected to the bottom panel 18 via a pair of hinges 34 for movement between a closed position (FIGS. 1-3) of the pet waste bag dispenser wherein access to the interior compartment 24 is inhibited and an opened position of the pet waste bag dispenser (FIGS. 4-6) wherein access to the interior compartment is permitted. It is understood, however, that the front panel 12 can be hingedly connected to the top panel 16 or one of the side panels 20, 22. For example, in one suitable embodiment, the front panel 12 can be hingedly connected to the left side panel 22 (as viewed in FIG. 5) such that the front panel pivots from the right toward the left.

To move the illustrated pet waste bag dispenser 10 from the closed position to the opened position, the front panel 12 is manually pivoted downward (i.e., moved away from the top panel 16). In the illustrated embodiment, the front panel 12 lies approximately in the same plane as the bottom panel 18 when the pet waste bag dispenser 10 is in the opened position (FIG. 6). In other words, the pet waste bag dispenser 10 is configured such that the front panel 12 pivots approximately 90 degrees between the opened and closed positions. It is understood, however, that the front panel 12 can pivot more or less than approximately 90 degrees. In one suitable embodiment, for example, the front panel can pivot approximately 180 degrees.

With reference now to FIGS. 1 and 2, the front panel 12 of the pet waste bag dispenser 10 includes at least one opening for allowing pet waste bags disposed within the interior compartment 24 of the pet waste bag dispenser 10 to be dispensed through the front panel. In the illustrated embodiment, the front panel 12 has three diamond shapes openings 28, 30, 32 that are horizontally arranged in side-by-side relations. It is understood, however, that one or more of the openings 28, 30, 32 can have other suitable shapes (e.g., circular, square, rectangular, triangular). It is also understood that in embodiments having more than one opening 28, 30, 32, the openings can have any suitable relative arrangements (e.g., vertically arranged, diagonally arranged, random).

Each of the openings 28, 30, 32 in the front panel 12 is configured for allowing pet waste bags to be dispensed through the opening. That is, pet waste bags disposed within the interior compartment 24 of the pet waste bag dispenser 10 can be accessed through any one of the openings 28, 30, 32 in the front panel. In the illustrated embodiment and as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the central opening 30 in the front panel 12 is larger than the openings 28, 32 disposed on its sides. It is contemplated, however, that the openings 28, 30, 32 can have substantially the same size, the central opening can be smaller than the two openings disposed on its sides, or that each of the openings can have different sizes.

With reference again to FIGS. 4 and 5, the pet waste bag dispenser 10 further comprises a positioner, indicated generally at 36, mounted to the back panel 14 within the interior compartment 24 of the pet waste bag dispenser 10. As seen in FIG. 7-9, the positioner 36 includes a pair of spaced prongs 38, a medial portion 40 extending generally vertically downward from each of the prongs, and a pair of spacing portions 42 extending at an angle relative to the medial portions. In the illustrated embodiment, a connection portion 44 extends between and connects the two spacing portions 42 and each of the medial portions 40 of the positioner 36 has a catch 46.

In one potential use, which is illustrated in FIGS. 10-12, the pet waste dispenser 10 is configured to hold a plurality of boxes, indicated generally at 50, containing rolled pet waste bags 52. Three boxes 50 of rolled pet waste bags 52 can be disposed vertically within the interior compartment 24 of the pet waste bag dispenser 10 such that openings 54 in the boxes generally align with the openings 28, 30, 32 in the front panel 12. As seen in FIGS. 10 and 11, each of the boxes 50 rests on the shelf 23. Two of the boxes 50 (the left and right most boxes as viewed in FIGS. 10 and 11) are held in vertical alignment (i.e., inhibited from canting) by the respective side panels 20, 22 and the positioner 36 and more specifically, the respective medial portions 40 and spacing portions 42 of the positioner. As seen in FIG. 11, the catches 46 of the medial portions 40 of the positioner 36 locate the two outer boxes 50 (i.e., the boxes disposed adjacent one of the side panels 20, 22). The center box 50 is disposed between the medial portions 40 and spacing portions 42 of the positioner 36. Thus, the spacing between the medial portions 40 and spacing portions 42 of the positioner 36 is predetermined to be generally equal to or slightly greater than the width of the boxes 50. The connecting portion 44 of the positioner 36 extends across the center box 50 so that that the center box is disposed between the back panel 14 and the connecting portion 44.

With reference again to FIGS. 10 and 11, a spare or extra box 56 can be stored within the interior compartment 24 of the pet waste bag dispenser 10 on the bottom panel 18. In the illustrated embodiment, the spare box 56 is disposed below the other boxes 50 and the shelf 23 upon which the other boxes rest. It is contemplated, however, that the shelf 23 and thus, the space below the shelf 23 and the spare box 56 can be omitted. For example, in some embodiments, the shelf 23 may be omitted such that the boxes 50 rest directly on the bottom panel 18. It is also contemplated that the interior compartment 24 of the pet waste bag dispenser 10 can be sized and shaped to receive more than one spare box 56.

FIG. 12 illustrates the rolled pet waste bags 52 of the boxes 50 extending through the openings 28, 30, 32 in the front panel 12 of the pet waste bag dispenser 10. As a result, the pet waste bags 52 are readily available for use. That is, the pet waste bags 52 disposed within the interior compartment 24 of the pet waste bag dispenser 10 can be manually grasped through the openings 28, 30, 32 in the front panel 12 and separated from the respective roll, which is contained within one of the boxes 50. The pet waste bags 52 can be separated from the roll of pet waste bags by pulling the bag against one of the edges of the respective diamond-shaped opening 28, 30, 32. Once removed from the pet waste bag dispenser and separated from the roll, the pet waste bag 52 can be used to collect and dispose of pet waste.

In another potential use, the pet waste bag dispenser 10 is configured to hold a plurality of stacked bags 58. As seen in FIGS. 13-15, the stacked bags 58 can be hung from the spaced prongs 38 of the positioner 36 such that the bags are disposed between the connecting portion 44 of the positioner and the front panel 12. The connecting portion 44 of the positioner 36 is arranged to locate the stacked bags 58 adjacent the central opening 30 in the front panel 12.

As seen in FIG. 15, one of the pet waste bags 58 is disposed adjacent to and is accessible through the center 30 in the front panel 12 of the pet waste bag dispenser 10. In the illustrated embodiment, at least one of the pet waste bags 58 extends through the opening 30. It is understood, however, that the pet waste bags 58 can be disposed adjacent to the opening 30 without extending through the opening. As a result, the pet waste bags 58 are readily available for use. That is, the pet waste bags 58 disposed within the interior compartment 24 of the pet waste bag dispenser 10 can be manually grasped through the central opening 30 in the front panel 12 and separated from the stack. Once removed from the pet waste bag dispenser 10 and separated from the stack, the pet waste bag 58 can be used to collect and dispose of pet waste.

Accordingly, the pet waste bag dispenser 10 is adapted to store and dispense both rolled pet waste bags 52 (FIGS. 10-12) and stacked pet waste bags 58 (FIGS. 13-15). In the illustrated embodiment, the housing 11 and the positioner 36 are adapted to receive only one of the rolled pet waste bags 52 and the plurality of stacked pet waste bags 58 at a given time. That is, rolled pet waste bags 52 and the stacked pet waste bags 58 cannot be used simultaneously in the illustrated embodiment of the pet waste bag dispenser 10. It is understood, however, that the pet waste bag dispenser 10 can be adapted to store and dispense both the rolled pet waste bags 52 and the stacked pet waste bags 58 at the same time.

In the illustrated embodiment, the pet waste bag dispenser 10 is made of a suitable metal (e.g., aluminum, steel). It is understood, however, that the pet waste bag dispenser 10 can be made of any suitable material (e.g., plastic).

FIGS. 16-21 illustrate another embodiment of a pet waste bag dispenser, indicated generally at 110, adapted to store and dispense both rolled pet waste bags and stacked pet waste bags according to some aspects of the invention. In this embodiment, the pet waste bag dispenser 110 comprises a rectangular box-shaped housing, indicated generally at 111. As with the housing 11 of the pet waste dispenser 10, the housing 111 of the pet waste bag dispenser 110 can have any suitable shape (e.g., cube, circular, triangular). As seen in FIGS. 16-21, the housing 111 of the illustrated pet waste bag dispenser 110 comprises a front panel 112, a back panel 114, a top panel 116, a bottom panel 118, and a pair of side panels 120, 122. A shelf 123 extends between the side panels 120, 122. The front panel 112 includes a flange 126 arranged to overlap the top panel 116 and the side panels 120, 122.

The front panel 112, the back panel 114, the top panel 116, the bottom panel 118, and the side panels 120, 122 cooperatively define an interior compartment 124 of the pet waste bag dispenser 110. In the illustrated embodiment, the front panel 112 is hingedly connected to the bottom panel 118 via a pair of hinges 134 for movement between a closed position (not shown but similar to the position of front panel 12 of pet waste bag dispenser 10 as illustrated in FIGS. 1-3) of the pet waste bag dispenser 110 wherein access to the interior compartment 124 is inhibited, and an opened position of the pet waste bag dispenser 110 (FIGS. 16-21) wherein access to the interior compartment 124 is permitted. It is understood, however, that the front panel 112 can be hingedly connected to the top panel 116 or one of the side panels 120, 122. For example, in one suitable embodiment, the front panel 112 can be hingedly connected to the left side panel 122 (as viewed in FIG. 17) such that the front panel pivots from the right toward the left.

To move the illustrated pet waste bag dispenser 110 from the closed position to the opened position, the front panel 112 is manually pivoted downward (i.e., moved away from the top panel 116). In the illustrated embodiment, the front panel 112 lies approximately in the same plane as the bottom panel 118 when the pet waste bag dispenser 110 is in the opened position. In other words, the pet waste bag dispenser 110 is configured such that the front panel 112 pivots approximately 90 degrees between the opened and closed positions. It is understood, however, that the front panel 112 can pivot more or less than approximately 90 degrees. In one suitable embodiment, for example, the front panel can pivot approximately 180 degrees.

The front panel 112 of the pet waste bag dispenser 110 includes at least one opening for allowing pet waste bags disposed within the interior compartment 124 of the pet waste bag dispenser 110 to be dispensed through the front panel 112. In the illustrated embodiment, the front panel 112 has three diamond shapes openings 128, 130, 132 that are horizontally arranged in side-by-side relations. It is understood, however, that one or more of the openings 128, 130, 132 can have other suitable shapes (e.g., circular, square, rectangular, triangular). It is also understood that in embodiments having more than one opening 128, 130, 132, the openings can have any suitable relative arrangements (e.g., vertically arranged, diagonally arranged, random).

Each of the openings 128, 130, 132 in the front panel 112 is configured for allowing pet waste bags to be dispensed through the opening. That is, pet waste bags disposed within the interior compartment 124 of the pet waste bag dispenser 110 can be accessed through any one of the openings 128, 130, 132 in the front panel. In embodiment depicted in FIGS. 16-21, the central opening 130 in the front panel 112 is larger than the openings 128, 132 disposed on its sides. It is contemplated, however, that the openings 128, 130, 132 can have substantially the same size, the central opening can be smaller than the two openings disposed on its sides, or that each of the openings can have different sizes.

According to some embodiments, the pet waste bag dispenser 110 further comprises a pair of positioning plates 160 mounted to the back panel 114 and/or a shelf 123 within the interior compartment 124 of the pet waste bag dispenser 110. For example, each positioning plate 160 may comprise a front edge 166 and a back edge 162 each extending in a substantially vertical direction (as viewed in FIG. 18), a bottom edge 164 and top edge 170 each extending in a substantially horizontal direction (as viewed in FIG. 18), and a sloped edge 168 extending downward and outward from the top edge 170 to the front edge 166. The sloped edge 168 may be generally inclined such that a bottommost end 167 thereof (i.e., an end abutting front edge 166) is disposed closer to the front panel 112 than a topmost end 169 thereof (i.e., an end abutting top edge 170) when the front panel 112 is in the closed position. In some embodiments, each positioning plate 160 may be mounted or otherwise secured within interior compartment 124 such that the back edge 162 is secured to back panel 114 and the bottom edge 164 is secured to the shelf 123 as can be seen in, e.g., FIG. 18.

The pet waste bag dispenser 110 may further comprise a pair of hooks 172 mounted or otherwise secured to top panel 116. Each hook may comprise a shank 174 extending generally downwards from top panel 116 in a substantially vertical direction (as viewed in FIG. 18), a bend 176 curvedly connected to shank 174 and extending in a substantially horizontal direction from the shank 174, and a tip 178 curvedly connected to the bend 176 and extending generally upwards from bend 176 in a substantially vertical direction. As most readily seen in FIG. 18, the tip 178 extends only a portion of the way between the bend 176 and the top panel 116 such that a gap 180 is formed as an open space between the shank 174 and the tip 178 and which is accessible via an opening between the uppermost end 182 of the tip 178 and the top panel 116.

According to some embodiments, the shank 174 of each hook 172 may be vertically aligned with a topmost end 169 of the sloped edge 168 of a corresponding positioning plate 160 as can be seen in FIG. 18. Further, the bend 176 of each hook 172 may be vertically aligned with the sloped edge 168 of the corresponding positioning plate 160. Still further, in some embodiments the tip 178 of each hook 172 may be vertically aligned with a bottommost end 167 of the sloped edge 168 of the corresponding positioning plate 160. Such configurations of the shank 174, bend 176, tip 178, and/or sloped edge 168 may advantageously locate a pet waste bag at one or more openings 128, 130, 132 in the front panel 112 as will be more fully discussed.

In the embodiment depicted in FIGS. 16-21, the pet waste bag dispenser 110 is adapted to store and dispense both rolled pet waste bags 52 (FIGS. 19 and 20) and stacked pet waste bags 58 (FIG. 21). For example, in one potential use, which is illustrated in FIGS. 19-20, the pet waste the pet waste dispenser 110 is configured to hold the plurality of boxes, indicated generally at 50, containing the rolled pet waste bags 52. Three boxes 50 of rolled pet waste bags 52 can be disposed vertically within the interior compartment 124 of the pet waste bag dispenser 110 such that openings 54 in the boxes generally align with the openings 128, 130, 132 in the front panel 112. As seen in FIGS. 19 and 20, each of the boxes 50 rests on the shelf 123. Two of the boxes 50 (the leftmost and rightmost boxes as viewed in FIG. 20) are held in vertical alignment (i.e., inhibited from canting) by the respective side panels 120, 122 and a corresponding positioning plate 160. The center box 50 is disposed between the pair of positioning plates 160 and held in vertical alignment by the pair of positioning plates. Thus, the spacing between the pair of positioning plates 160 is predetermined to be generally equal to or slightly greater than the width of the boxes 50.

As further seen in FIGS. 19 and 20, the spare or extra box 56 can be stored within the interior compartment 124 of the pet waste bag dispenser 110 on the bottom panel 118. In the illustrated embodiment, the spare box 56 is disposed below the other boxes 50 and the shelf 123 upon which the other boxes 50 rest. It is contemplated, however, that the shelf 123 and thus the space below the shelf 123 and the spare box 56 can be omitted. For example, in some embodiments, the shelf 123 may be omitted such that the boxes 50 rest directly on the bottom panel 118. In such embodiments, the bottom edge 164 of each positioning plate 160 may be secured directly to bottom panel 118. It is also contemplated that the interior compartment 124 of the pet waste bag dispenser 110 can be sized and shaped to receive more than one spare box 56.

As with the embodiment discussed in connection with, e.g., FIG. 12, once front panel 112 is in a closed position (not shown), the rolled pet waste bags 52 of the boxes 50 can extend through the openings 128, 130, 132 in the front panel 112 of the pet waste bag dispenser 110. As a result, the pet waste bags 52 are readily available for use. That is, the pet waste bags 52 disposed within the interior compartment 124 of the pet waste bag dispenser 110 can be manually grasped through the openings 128, 130, 132 in the front panel 112 and separated from the respective roll, which is contained within one of the boxes 50. The pet waste bags 52 can be separated from the roll of pet waste bags by pulling the bag against one of the edges of the respective opening 128, 130, 132. Additionally or alternatively, a user may simply remove a bag, e.g., by tearing a single bag from the rolled pet waste bags 52 along a provided perforation or the like. Once removed from the pet waste bag dispenser and separated from the roll, the pet waste bag 52 can be used to collect and dispose of pet waste.

In another potential use, the pet waste bag dispenser 110 is configured to hold the plurality of stacked bags 58. As seen in FIG. 21, the stacked bags 58 can be hung from the pair of hooks 172 such that the bags are disposed between the sloped edge of each positioning plate 160 and the front panel 112. For example, a top portion of the stacked bags 58 can be received in the gap 180 of each hook 172 such that the stacked bags 58 are generally supported by the bend 176 of each hook. Further, the stacked bags 58 may generally rest on the sloped edges 168 of each positioning plate 160 such that a bottom portion of the stacked bags 58 is closer to the front panel 112 of the pet waste bag dispenser 110 when the front panel is in the closed position than the top portion of the stacked bags 58. In such a configuration, the sloped edges 168 of each positioning plate 160 may generally guide the stacked bags 58 towards one or more of the openings 128, 130, 132 in the front cover for access by a user.

When used to accommodate the stacked bags 58, the position of each hook 172 with respect to a corresponding positioning plate 160 may beneficially serve to guide each bag of the stacked bags 58 towards one or more openings 128, 130, 132 such that the bag may be readily grasped and removed by a user. For example, and returning to FIG. 18, the shank 174 of each hook 172 may be vertically aligned with a topmost end 169 of the sloped edge 168 of a corresponding positioning plate 160 and the tip 178 of each hook 172 may be vertically aligned with a bottommost end 167 of the sloped edge 168 of the corresponding positioning plate 160. In such an embodiment, the gap 180 of each hook 172 is generally positioned above and aligned with the sloped edge of each positioning plate 160. Accordingly, when the stacked bags 58 are disposed on the pair of hooks 172 (as discussed in connection with FIG. 21) the stacked bags 58 will generally rest on the sloped edges 168 of each positioning plate 160 such that each bag of the stacked bags 58 will be urged toward the openings 128, 130, 132 in the front panel 112 when the front panel 112 is in the closed position. Accordingly, in some embodiments the position of each hook 172 with respect to the pair of positioning plates 160 may advantageously direct the stacked bags toward the openings 128, 130, 132 such that a bag may be readily grasped by a user.

Accordingly, and as with pet waste bag dispenser 10 discussed in connection with FIGS. 1-15, the pet waste bag dispenser 110 is adapted to store and dispense both rolled pet waste bags 52 (FIGS. 19 and 20) and stacked pet waste bags 58 (FIG. 21). In the illustrated embodiment, the housing 111, the pair of positioning plates 160, and the pair of hooks 172 are adapted to receive only one of the rolled pet waste bags 52 and the plurality of stacked pet waste bags 58 at a given time. That is, rolled pet waste bags 52 and the stacked pet waste bags 58 cannot be used simultaneously in the illustrated embodiment of the pet waste bag dispenser 110. It is understood, however, that the pet waste bag dispenser 110 can be adapted to store and dispense both the rolled pet waste bags 52 and the stacked pet waste bags 58 at the same time. Further, and returning to FIG. 21, in some embodiments one or more boxes 50 of rolled pet waste bags 52 may be stored behind the stacked pet waste bags 58. For example, in some embodiments one or more boxes 50 of rolled pet waste bags 52 may be stored on shelf 123 behind the stacked pet waste bags 58. Further, the spare or extra box 56 may be stored on the bottom panel 118 below shelf 123 and behind the stacked pet waste bags 58.

In the illustrated embodiment, the pet waste bag dispenser 110 is made of a suitable metal (e.g., aluminum, steel). It is understood, however, that the pet waste bag dispenser 110 can be made of any suitable material (e.g., plastic). Further, in some embodiments, the various components of pet waste bag dispenser 110 may be made of varying materials. For example, in some embodiments the housing 111 of pet waste bag dispenser 110 may be made of, e.g., aluminum, while the pair of positioning plates 160 may be made of, e.g., plastic. Any other combination of suitable materials for the varying components of pet waste bag dispenser 110 may be employed without departing from the scope of this disclosure.

When introducing elements of the present invention or the preferred embodiment(s) thereof, the articles “a”, “an”, “the” and “said” are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms “comprising”, “including” and “having” are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements. Moreover, the use of “top”, “bottom”, “above”, “below” and variations of these terms is made for convenience, and does not require any particular orientation of the components.

As various changes could be made in the above without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A pet waste bag dispenser comprising: a housing defining an interior compartment and having at least one opening in communication with the interior compartment; and a pair of positioning plates located within the interior compartment of the housing, the pair of positioning plates being configured to position at least one box containing rolled pet waste bags relative to the opening such that the rolled pet waste bags can be dispensed through the opening in the housing, the pair of positioning plates also being configured to position a plurality of stacked pet waste bags relative to the opening such that stacked pet waste bags can be dispensed through the opening in the housing.
 2. The pet waste bag dispenser set forth in claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a back panel, wherein each of the pair of positioning plates comprises a back edge and a sloped edge, wherein the back edge extends generally vertically and abuts the back panel, and wherein the sloped edge extends at an angle relative to the back edge.
 3. The pet waste bag dispenser set forth in claim 2, wherein the housing further comprises a front panel including the opening and configured to move between an opened position and a closed position, wherein a bottommost end of each sloped edge is disposed closer to the front panel when the front panel is in a closed position than a topmost end of each sloped edge.
 4. The pet waste bag dispenser set forth in claim 3, wherein the front panel includes three diamond shapes openings that are horizontally arranged in side-by-side relations, each of the openings being configured for allowing at least one of the rolled pet waste bags and the stacked pet waste bags to be dispensed therethrough.
 5. The pet waste bag dispenser set forth in claim 2 further comprising a pair of hooks, wherein the pair of hooks is disposed above the pair of positioning plates.
 6. The pet waste bag dispenser set forth in claim 5, wherein the pair of hooks is adapted to support the plurality of stacked pet waste bags such that the bags are disposed adjacent the opening in the housing.
 7. The pet waste bag dispenser set forth in claim 5, wherein the pair of hooks is configured to receive and suspend the plurality of stacked pet waste bags such that, when suspended, the plurality of stacked pet waste bags rest on the sloped edges of the pair of positioning plates with the sloped edges positioning the plurality of stacked pet waste bags toward the opening.
 8. The pet waste bag dispenser set forth in claim 5, wherein each hook comprises a bend disposed above and vertically aligned with the sloped edge of a corresponding positioning plate of the pair of positioning plates.
 9. The pet waste bag dispenser set forth in claim 8, wherein each hook further comprises a shank connected to a top panel of the housing and a tip, wherein the bend extends from the shank to the tip, wherein the shank is vertically aligned with the topmost end of the sloped edge of the corresponding positioning plate, and wherein the tip is vertically aligned with the bottommost end of the sloped edge of the corresponding positioning plate.
 10. The pet waste bag dispenser set forth in claim 1, wherein the housing has three openings in communication with the interior compartment and the housing is configured to receive three boxes of rolled pet waste bags disposed vertically within the interior compartment such that openings in the boxes of rolled pet waste bags are generally aligned with the openings in the housing.
 11. The pet waste bag dispenser set forth in claim 10, wherein the housing comprises a pair of side panels and is further configured to receive: a first box of rolled pet waste bags between a first panel of the pair of side panels and a first positioning plate of the pair of positioning plates; a second box of rolled pet waste bags between the first positioning plate and a second positioning plate of the pair of positioning plates; and a third box of rolled pet waste bags between the second positioning plate and a second panel of the pair of side panels.
 12. The pet waste bag dispenser set forth in claim 11 wherein the housing further comprises a shelf disposed within the interior compartment of the housing and extending between the side panels and configured to support the three boxes of rolled pet waste bags.
 13. A pet waste bag dispenser comprising: a housing defining an interior compartment and having at least one opening in communication with the interior compartment, the interior compartment being sized and shaped to receive one of at least one box of rolled pet waste bags and a plurality of stacked pet waste bags; a pair of positioning plates located within the interior compartment of the housing, each of the pair of positioning plates including a back edge extending generally vertically and abutting a back panel of the housing, and a sloped edge extending at an angle relative to the back edge; and a pair of hooks disposed above the pair of positioning plates, wherein the pair of positioning plates is configured to position the at least one box containing rolled pet waste bags relative to the opening such that the rolled pet waste bags can be dispensed through the opening in the housing, and wherein the pair of positioning plates is also configured to position a plurality of stacked pet waste bags relative to the opening such that the stacked pet waste bags can be dispensed through the opening in the housing, the pair of hooks being adapted to support the plurality of stacked pet waste bags such that the bags are disposed adjacent the opening in the housing, and the sloped edge of each of the pair of positioning plates being arranged to locate the stacked pet waste bags adjacent the opening in the housing when the stacked pet waste bags are supported by the pair of hooks.
 14. The pet waste bag dispenser set forth in claim 13, wherein the housing further comprises a front panel including the opening and configured to move between an opened position and a closed position, wherein a bottommost end of each sloped edge is disposed closer to the front panel when the front panel is in a closed position than a topmost end of each sloped edge.
 15. The pet waste bag dispenser set forth in claim 14, wherein the front panel includes three diamond shapes openings that are horizontally arranged in side-by-side relations, each of the openings being configured for allowing at least one of the rolled pet waste bags and the stacked pet waste bags to be dispensed therethrough.
 16. The pet waste bag dispenser set forth in claim 13, wherein each hook comprises a bend disposed above and vertically aligned with the sloped edge of a corresponding positioning plate of the pair of positioning plates.
 17. The pet waste bag dispenser set forth in claim 16, wherein each hook further comprises a shank connected to a top panel of the housing and a tip, wherein the bend extends from the shank to the tip, wherein the shank is vertically aligned with the topmost end of the sloped edge of the corresponding positioning plate, and wherein the tip is vertically aligned with the bottommost end of the sloped edge of the corresponding positioning plate.
 18. The pet waste bag dispenser set forth in claim 13, wherein the housing has three openings in communication with the interior compartment and the housing is configured to receive three boxes of rolled pet waste bags disposed vertically within the interior compartment such that openings in the boxes of rolled pet waste bags are generally aligned with the openings in the housing.
 19. The pet waste bag dispenser set forth in claim 18, wherein the housing comprises a pair of side panels and is further configured to receive: a first box of rolled pet waste bags between a first panel of the pair of side panels and a first positioning plate of the pair of positioning plates; a second box of rolled pet waste bags between the first positioning plate and a second positioning plate of the pair of positioning plates; and a third box of rolled pet waste bags between the second positioning plate and a second panel of the pair of side panels.
 20. The pet waste bag dispenser set forth in claim 19, wherein the housing further comprises a shelf disposed within the interior compartment of the housing and extending between the side panels and configured to support the three boxes of rolled pet waste bags. 